Publications and Studies

Culture in development cooperation: Cultural sectors in sustainable development policy

Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture recently published a report entitled Culture in development cooperation: cultural sectors in sustainable development policy.

The document prepared by an unofficial working group of the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs suggests elements to be used as content for the theme of culture and development. It provides opinions and objectives on the role and potential of culture in development cooperation in general and more specifically from the perspective of capitalizing on the strengths and resources of the Finnish cultural sector.

The document also discusses the European Union’s development policy and investments from the perspective of culture and the foci of Finland’s contribution to international organizations, particularly UNESCO and WIPO. The increasing reach of globalization and multiculturalism is creating unprecedented opportunities for strengthening intercultural exchange, as well as new challenges for preserving cultural diversity, especially between rich and poor countries. The UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions plays a crucial role in this context.